Cherry Picking

[B-A-C]

I do have a cherry tree in my yard, it wasn't really fruitful this year, but sometimes I pick cherries from it.

But in Bible based theology.. what is cherry picking? It's a term you hear on TalkJesus from time to time. I does happen here on occasion.
So then.. what is it.

Usually a single hand picked verse that supports your point of view, even if multiple other verses support an opposing view.
This is based on something called "weight of scripture". Ten verses that say something about a particular subject outweigh 1 verse that may seem to say something different.
And often... at least here on TalkJesus, it isn't even a full verse. It's part of a verse taken out of context, and sometimes mixed with another verse that has nothing to do with
the subject being discussed.

However the opposite also happens frequently here on TalkJesus also. For example... if someone posts 3 or 4 passages, with each passages containing 4 or 5 verses to support
a doctrinal point of view, well then by definition, it's not cherry picking anymore. Now it's a full blown doctrine.

You sometimes see someone post a whole page with 20 or 30 verses to support a point of view or doctrine. Then someone else comes along and posts maybe 1 or 2 scriptures ( if any )
and then accused them of cherry picking. Who is the real cherry picker in that case?

 

[Hekuran]

I think the number of verses presented matters far less than the attitude we come to the Bible with. If our intention is to find biblical backing for our views, it doesn't matter whether we find two cherries or twenty - it's still cherry picking.

A better way is to come humbly to the scriptures, asking what does the whole of God's word say on a particular issue, and how should it shape our wisdom. We should be aware of passages than are in tension with each other, do the hard work of examine the particular context and situation each was written from and prayerfully consider how to interpret it and apply it today.

 

[B-A-C]

A better way is to come humbly to the scriptures, asking what does the whole of God's word say on a particular issue

Wouldn't the scriptures be the answer to this? It's usually there in black and white ( and red ). If we look to some mystical reason that differs from what is written, that's how cults get started.

 

[Hekuran]

Wouldn't the scriptures be the answer to this? It's usually there in black and white ( and red ). If we look to some mystical reason that differs from what is written, that's how cults get started.

Yes, it's not mystical or mysterious. Just reading the Bible being open to what God is saying, rather than searching it to find things that confirm our views.

 

[Butch5]

Wouldn't the scriptures be the answer to this? It's usually there in black and white ( and red ). If we look to some mystical reason that differs from what is written, that's how cults get started.

It's not always just the Scriptures. How can two people read the same Scriptures and cone away with different beliefs? The answer is presuppositions. What we already believe influences how we understand and interpret the Scriputres.

 

[B-A-C]

How can two people read the same Scriptures and cone away with different beliefs? The answer is presuppositions.

I agree, but I also say that if you went with majority text, ( a larger number of scriptures ) this could not happen.

 

[KingJ]

You sometimes see someone post a whole page with 20 or 30 verses to support a point of view or doctrine. Then someone else comes along and posts maybe 1 or 2 scriptures ( if any )
and then accused them of cherry picking. Who is the real cherry picker in that case?

You can cherry pick 20 - 30 verses.

One is guilty of cherry picking when there is scripture they are 'not dealing' with. It can be one extra scripture or more.

The devil in the wilderness could have found 20 scriptures speaking to miracles of turning stone into bread. Jesus would still have only added one verse for context. Matt 4:3-4.

It is important in discussion for us to 'deal with' every scripture presented. Only then are you not guilty of cherry picking.

 

[Butch5]

I agree, but I also say that if you went with majority text, ( a larger number of scriptures ) this could not happen.

I don’t think matters which text we use. The problem as I see it, is that everyone filters the Scriptures through their own beliefs. People say the Bible is hard to understand. It's really not. If we look at the Scriptures from a real world perspective and take them at face value they're easy to understand. The problem is that people are taught "what the Bible says" then they try to make the Scriputre for what they've been taught. What they've been taught becomes their presuppositions.

All of these debates and differences are because people are trying to make the Bibke fit what they believe rather than making what they believe fit the Bible. People say, no, no, no,,I don't do that. But they do. The just don't know it because they don't believe what they've been taught is wrong